Systems and methods for fitness and video games

ABSTRACT

In some aspects, a system is provided that includes a plurality of mobile devices and an application on at least a first mobile device. The application is adapted to track position information regarding the first mobile device, communicate the position information to a web server, receive position information from the web server regarding other mobile devices within a predetermined distance of the first mobile device, and use the position information regarding the other mobile devices to affect one or more characteristics of a video game executed on the first mobile device. Numerous other aspects are provided.

The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/596,707, filed Oct. 8, 2019, and titled“SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FITNESS AND VIDEO GAMES” (Attorney Docket No.BMD-011-US-C03), now U.S. Pat. No. 11,376,510, which is a continuationof and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/854,740,filed Dec. 26, 2017, and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FITNESS ANDVIDEO GAMES” (Attorney Docket No. BMD011/C02), now U.S. Pat. No.10,434,422, which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/159,664, filed May 19, 2016 and titled“SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FITNESS AND VIDEO GAMES” (Attorney Docket No.BMD011/C01), now U.S. Pat. No. 9,873,054, which is a continuation of andclaims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/440,987, filedApr. 5, 2012 and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FITNESS AND VIDEOGAMES” (Attorney Docket No. BMD011), now U.S. Pat. No. 9,610,506, whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/472,191,filed Apr. 5, 2011 and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FITNESS AND VIDEOGAMES”, (Attorney Docket No. BMD011/L) and which is acontinuation-in-part and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/433,285, filed Mar. 28, 2012 and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORFITNESS AND VIDEO GAMES”, (Attorney Docket No. BMD010), now U.S. Pat.No. 9,533,228, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/468,444, filed Mar. 28, 2011 and titled “SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS FOR FITNESS AND VIDEO GAMES”, (Attorney Docket No. BMD010/L).Each of the above applications is hereby incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to fitness, and more particularly tosystems and methods for fitness and video games.

BACKGROUND

A fitness craze has swept the United States and many other countries.From fat-free potato chips to treadmills, people around the world havebecome obsessed with weight loss and healthy living. Accordingly, recordnumbers of new fitness products/exercise equipment have emerged to meetthis obsession (including stair climbers, treadmills, recumbentbicycles, ski machines, and the like).

Many pieces of exercise equipment, when used regularly, are very usefulfor weight loss, for improving cardiovascular stamina, and forstrengthening various muscles. However, most exercise equipment suffersfrom a major drawback: the equipment is boring to use because of itsinability to successfully encourage a user (e.g., an exerciser) tocontinue exercising. As a result, most purchasers of exercise equipmentstop using the equipment shortly after purchasing it.

Numerous applications for mobile phones, tablet computers or the likeare available for tracking fitness and exercise. Examples includeapplications that track food consumed, provide work out routines or thelike. Such applications continue to grow in popularity.

However, a need exists for mobile applications and systems that motivatean exerciser to continue exercising, exercise harder and have fun.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, a system is provided that includes (1) a plurality ofmobile devices; and (2) an application on each mobile device, theapplication adapted to (a) allow exercisers to form an exercise group;(b) track position or change in position of each exerciser in theexerciser group; and (c) display an avatar having a position that iscontrolled by a position or change in position of one or more member ofthe exercise group.

In some aspects, a method for exercising using a mobile device isprovided that includes providing an application on a first mobiledevice. The application adapted to (1) display an avatar on the firstmobile device; (2) monitor exercise performed by a user of the firstmobile device to obtain monitored exercise information; (3) communicatemonitored exercise information from the first mobile device to one ormore other mobile devices employed by one or more other users; (4)receive monitored exercise information from one or more other mobiledevices employed by one or more other users; (5) display an avatar onthe first mobile device; and (6) adjust a position of the avatar on thefirst mobile device based on monitored exercise information of the firstuser and monitored exercise information from one or more other mobiledevices.

In some aspects, an application for a mobile device is provided thatincludes program code adapted to allow the mobile device to (1) displaya video game have one or more avatars controllable by locationinformation of a user of the mobile device and location information ofat least one user of another mobile device; (2) share locationinformation for the mobile device with at least one other mobile device;and (3) obtain location information of at least one other mobile device.

In some aspects, a system is provided that includes a plurality ofmobile devices and an application on at least a first mobile device. Theapplication is adapted to track position information regarding the firstmobile device, communicate the position information to a web server,receive position information from the web server regarding other mobiledevices within a predetermined distance of the first mobile device, anduse the position information regarding the other mobile devices toaffect one or more characteristics of a video game executed on the firstmobile device.

In some aspects, a method is provided that includes (1) executing avideo game on a mobile device; (2) receiving position informationregarding one or more additional mobile devices within a predetermineddistance of the mobile device; and (3) using the position informationregarding the one or more additional mobile devices to affect one ormore characteristics of the video game executing on the mobile device.

In one or more aspects, an application for a mobile device includesprogram code adapted to allow the mobile device to (1) execute a videogame on the mobile device; (2) receive position information regardingone or more additional mobile devices within a predetermined distance ofthe mobile device; and (3) use the position information regarding theone or more additional mobile devices to affect one or morecharacteristics of the video game executed on the mobile device.

Numerous other aspects are provided, as are various methods, apparatusand computer program products for carrying out these and other aspectsof the invention. Each computer program product may be carried by amedium readable by a computer (e.g., a carrier wave signal, a floppydisc, a hard drive, a random access memory, etc.).

Other features and aspects of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following detailed description, the appendedclaims, and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for employing a mobile device to motivate anexerciser to exercise via communication with one or more otherexercisers through one or more other mobile devices over a communicationnetwork in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2A-C are schematic diagrams of a first exemplary races in which agroup may participate and which may be displayed on a mobile device inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a second exemplary race in which agroup may participate and which may be displayed on a mobile device inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary baseball game in which a group may participateand which may be displayed on a mobile device in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary social network game in which a group mayparticipate and which may be displayed on a mobile device in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary car race in which a group may participate andwhich may be displayed on a mobile device in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a system for employing proximity ofother mobile device users to affect game play in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods thatmotivate an exerciser to continue exercising, exercise harder and havefun during exercise. For example, in some embodiments, systems andmethods are provided that allow an exerciser to employ a mobile phone,tablet or other similar portable computing device to join a group ofexercisers in an exercising program.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for employing a mobile device 102 a tomotivate an exerciser 104 a to exercise via communication with one ormore other exercisers 104 b-n through one or more other mobile devices102 b-n over a communication network 106. The exercisers 104 a-n mayform an exercise group 108. Mobile devices 102 a-n may include mobile(e.g., cellular) phones, other personal digital assistants (PDAs),tablet computers or the like which run an application 110 provided inaccordance with the present invention and described further below.Exercisers 104 a-n may be runners, cyclers, walkers or any othersuitable exercisers. Communication network 106 may be the internet, oneor more mobile telephone networks such as a 3G or 4G network, anintranet, a WiFi network or the like.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, each mobile device 102 a-nmay execute an application 110 that may:

(1) Employ GPS features of the mobile device to track position or changein position of the exerciser using the mobile device;(2) Determine change in position information of the exerciser;(3) Prompt the exerciser when and/or for how long the exerciser shouldchange position;(4) Determine speed information of the exerciser;(5) Display a representation of the position, change in position, and/orspeed of one or more exercisers on one or more of the mobile devices 102a-n;(6) Communicate messages to one or more exercisers from one or moreother exercisers;(7) Monitor and/or communicate other biometric information of anexerciser such as heart rate, step rate, pulse, distance travelled,speed, etc.;(8) Communicate position, change in position, heart rate, step rate,pulse, distance travelled, and/or other biometric information to one ormore other exercisers, a third party such as family, friends, a doctor,an insurance company, a social network, etc.;(9) Allow each exerciser to select an exercise group in which toparticipate; and/or(10) Display information about the success of one or more exercisersand/or of the group at achieving a goal (e.g., time exercised, distancetravelled, speed achieved, heart rate achieved, etc.).

In one particular embodiment, the application 110 may displayinformation about and/or facilitate execution of a race in which each ofthe exercisers 104 a-n may participate. For example, the race may be arelay race, a race between two destinations such as between two cities,across the island of Manhattan, across a state or the like, a racearound the world, etc. Exerciser 104 a (Exerciser 1) may be directed bymobile device 102 a, such as by a visual and/or audio prompt, toexercise by walking, running, cycling or otherwise changing position fora predetermined time period and/or predetermined distance. In someembodiments, the application 110 may track the position of the exerciser104 a (exerciser 1) using a GPS feature of the mobile device 102 a andcommunicate the position information to the exerciser 104 a(exerciser 1) and/or to one or more of the mobile devices 102 b-n of theexercisers 104 b-n (and/or another third party if desired such as afamily member, friends, retailers and/or restaurants near the exerciser,a social network site such as Facebook, Google+ or Twitter, etc). Eachmobile device 102 a-n may display a representation of the exerciser 104a's position (and/or change in position) as the exerciser 104 a changesposition. Other biometric information may be monitored, communicatedand/or displayed such as heart rate, step rate, pulse rate, distancetravelled, speed, etc.

Once the exerciser 104 a (exerciser 1) completes his/her exercise suchas by walking, running, cycling or otherwise changing position for thepredetermined time period and/or predetermined distance, the secondexerciser 104 b (exerciser 2) may be begin exercising by walking,running, cycling or otherwise changing position for a predetermined timeperiod and/or predetermined distance. In some embodiments, theapplication 110 may track the position of the exerciser 104 b (exerciser2) using a GPS feature of the mobile device 102 b and communicate theposition information to the exerciser 104 b (exerciser 2) and/or to oneor more of the mobile devices 102 a, 102 c-n of the exercisers 104 a,104 c-n (exercisers 1, and 3-n). Each mobile device 102 a-n may displaya representation of the exerciser 104 b's position (and/or change inposition) as the exerciser 104 b changes position. Other biometricinformation also may be monitored, communicated and/or displayed such asheart rate, step rate, pulse rate, etc. (In some embodiments, theperiods in which exercisers exercise may overlap.)

The above process may repeat until each exerciser 104 a-n has completedan exercise routine. For instance, each exerciser 104 a-n may walk, run,cycle or otherwise change position one, two, three, etc., times duringthe race. Each exerciser 104 a-n may exercise the same number or adifferent number of times during the race. While the above has beendescribed with regard to exercisers changing position, it will beunderstood that other forms of exercise may be employed in which theexerciser does not change position significantly. For example, anexerciser may run or march in place, perform jumping jacks, etc., all ofwhich may be detected by changes in acceleration measured byaccelerometers within a mobile device such as a mobile phone, tabletcomputer, etc. Alternatively or additionally, heart rate, pulse,acceleration or other biometric monitors may monitor and/or providebiometric information to a mobile device and track exercise.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary race 200 in which thegroup 108 may participate and which may be displayed on each mobiledevice 102 a-n using application 110. With reference to FIG. 2A, therace 200 includes four destinations including a desert 202, a castle204, a city 206 and paradise 208 that are connected by paths 210 a-c,respectively. An avatar 212 is shown traversing path 210 b betweencastle 204 and city 206. Fewer, more and/or different destinations maybe employed.

In operation, race 200 may be displayed on each mobile device 102 a-nvia application 110 running on each mobile device 102 a-n. In general,each mobile device 102 a-n need not be running application 110simultaneously and exercisers 104 a-n may launch application 110 at anytime on a respective mobile device 102 a-n (or any other suitabledevice) to check the status of avatar 212 within the race 200. In someembodiments, the program code for managing and/or administering race 200(or any video game as described below) may reside on a Web server orother server 112 (FIG. 1) in communication with the mobile devices 102a-n and/or may be managed and/or administered by a social networkingsite such as Facebook, Google+ or Twitter. For example, web server 112may include program code 114 and/or one or more databases 116 formanaging and/or administering the race 200, storing informationregarding exercisers 104 a-n and/or their exercise activities, allowingnew members to join the group 108, filtering potential new groupmembers, etc. Likewise, race status and/or statistics may be displayedand/or viewed on such social networking sites or another web site.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2A, the position of avatar 212 iscontrolled by the exercise (e.g., such as change in position, heartrate, steps taken, other biometric parameters, etc.) of exercisers 104a-n. For example, exerciser 104 a (exerciser 1) may be directed bymobile device 102 a, such as by a visual and/or audio prompt, toexercise by walking, running, cycling or otherwise changing position fora predetermined time period and/or predetermined distance. In someembodiments, the application 110 may track the position of the exerciser104 a (exerciser 1) using a GPS feature of the mobile device 102 a anddisplay a change in position of the avatar 212 in response to a changein position of exerciser 104 a. In this manner the avatar 212 may travelalong paths 210 a-210 c between the various destinations 202-208. Eachmobile device 102 a-n may display the avatar 212 changing position asthe exerciser 104 a changes position. Each exerciser 104 a-n may beassigned a portion or “leg” (portion) of the race 200 to complete bymoving a predetermined distance or for a predetermined time period, orotherwise exercising. In some embodiments, the exercisers 104 a-n mayassist one another by offering encouragement, taking over the leg of therace 200 from another exerciser or the like. The avatar 212 may likewisechange position based on biometric data measured for an exerciser suchas heart rate, steps taken, pulse, etc.

In one exemplary embodiment, the race 200 may be between two locations220 a and 220 b, such as across Manhattan, Boston, San Francisco or thelike and the avatar 212 may be shown progressing between the twolocations 220 a, 220 b within the city in response to exercise performedby members of the exercise group 108. The “goal” of the race 200 may beto run across Manhattan or another city (e.g., by having the avatar 212travel between the first and second locations 220 a and 220 b). Eachexerciser 104 a-n is motivated to do his/her part to help the group 108and will experience how much the group can achieve by working together.This is even more pronounced in an embodiments such as shown in FIG. 2Cin which avatar 212 travels between cities, such as between Manhattanand Boston, or Denver and Seattle as shown in FIG. 2C, or between anyother remote locations (e.g., New York and China). In such embodiments,the avatar 212 is able to travel much farther through activities of thegroup 108 than would be possible through the activities of anindividual. In some embodiments, the race 200 may take days, weeks,months or longer to complete and/or the distance travelled by avatar 212may be the actual distance travelled by the members of the group 108during exercise.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a race 300 in which multiple exercisegroups 108 may compete with one another within the race 300. The race300 is similar to the race 200, but includes a separate avatar 312 a-nfor each exercise group 108. In such embodiments, the mobile device ofeach exerciser in each group may be employed to display the race 300 and(multiple) avatar positions as the exercisers compete. Any number ofexerciser groups may compete. In some embodiments, “handoffs” betweenexercisers within a group may be displayed as shown by avatar 312 nwhich indicates that the current exerciser of an exercise group isending his/her leg of the race and another member of the exercise groupis beginning his/her leg of the race.

Exercisers within a group may not wish to share actual GPS coordinateswith other members of their exercise group. Accordingly, in someembodiments, the application 110 may only communicate informationrepresentative of position or change in position of an exerciser toother mobile devices. For instance, when exerciser 104 a begins his/herleg of a race, the application 110 on the mobile device 102 a may treatthe exerciser 104 a as being at position x=0. Subsequent positions ofthe exerciser 104 a may be adjusted accordingly so as to mask actual GPScoordinates of exerciser 104 a. As mentioned, other biometric data suchas heart rate, pulse rate, step rate, other parameters mentioned inTable 1 below, or the like may be monitored and employed to affectposition, speed or the like of avatars 212 and/or 312 a-n.

As stated, in some embodiments, the program code for managing and/oradministering a race (or any video game as described below) may resideon a Web server or other server 112 in communication with the mobiledevices 102 a-n and/or may be managed and/or administered by a socialnetworking site such as Facebook, Google+ or Twitter. In addition toraces (e.g., travel from one location to another), other competitivesports activities may include a “virtual” baseball, dodge ball, tennis,hockey, lacrosse, kickball, etc., in which accelerometers within amobile device are used to detect a kick, jump, swing of a baseball bat(or arm/hand that mimics a swing of a baseball bat), swing of a tennisracquet, hockey stick or lacrosse stick, or the like. For example, withreference to FIG. 4, an exercise group 108 may participate in a virtualbaseball game 400 in which each exerciser 104 a-n in the group 108 isassigned a position with an avatar 412 a-n that is displayed in thatposition on a virtual baseball field 414 displayed on each mobile device102 a-n. In some embodiments, a remote web server, such as web server112 in FIG. 1, may be programmed to communicate with the mobile deviceof each exerciser 104 a-n, host the virtual game, issue avatar positionupdates to each mobile device used by an exerciser 104 a-n (e.g., basedon biometric or other information received from each mobile device asdescribed below).

During a game, the position and/or behavior of each avatar 412 a-d on abaseball field 414 may be controlled by the GPS location and/or otherdata measured by each mobile device 102 a-n (and/or by biometric datacollected by the mobile device 102 a-n such as heart rate, speed,cadence, pulse, etc.). For example, exerciser 1 (represented by avatar412 a) may pitch a ball to exerciser 2 (represented by avatar 412 b) bypretending to pitch a ball with his/her mobile device. For instance,exerciser 1 (represented by avatar 412 a) may hold his/her mobile devicein his/her pitching arm, and carry out a pitching motion while holdingthe mobile device. Accelerometers within the mobile device (or anaccelerometer in communication with the mobile device) may measureforces generated during the pitch, for example, by measuring x, y and/orz axis acceleration. Each mobile device 102 a-n may display an avatarrepresentative of exerciser 1 pitching a ball and/or ball speed in the“virtual” game may be based on the real world pitch of exerciser 1(e.g., as measured by accelerometers in the mobile device of exerciser1, one or more external accelerometers in communication with the mobiledevice of exerciser 1 such as an accelerometer mounted in a write band,or the like). Exerciser 2 (represented by avatar 412 b) may hit the ballpitched by exerciser 1 (represented by avatar 412 a) by swinging his/hermobile device at the appropriate time based on the pitch of exerciser 1(represented by avatar 412 a) or by performing some predeterminedexercise requirement (e.g., running for a predetermined time, distanceand/or speed, maintaining a predetermined heart rate range for apredetermined time, or the like). Assuming exerciser 2 (represented byavatar 412 b) actually hits the virtual ball (e.g., swings his/hermobile device at the correct time or performs a predetermined exerciserequirement), each mobile device 102 a-n may display a ball being hit bythe avatar 412 b of exerciser 2. Exerciser 3 (represented by avatar 412c), who may be playing infield or outfield, may catch the ball hit byexerciser 2 by running or performing some other predetermined exerciseso as to cause his/her avatar 412 c to run toward the virtual ball hitby the avatar 412 b of exerciser 2. Exerciser 3 may “catch” the ball hitby exerciser 2 using his/her mobile device, for example. In general, alltypes of ball play may be similarly conducted using the accelerometersand/or GPS features of mobile devices 102 a-n (or external biometricmeasurement devices that provide biometric information to the mobiledevices). Other virtual games may be similarly played such as tennis,football, basketball, hockey, volleyball, or the like. While only fouravatars are shown in FIG. 4 representing four exercisers, it will beunderstood that fewer or more exercisers and/or avatars may be employed.

Note that virtual game play may or may not be performed in real time. Insome embodiments, the position or other characteristics of an avatar maybe changed during or after exercise is performed.

In one or more embodiments, an exercise group, such as a group offriends, a group with members that share certain characteristics such assimilar age, interests, historical exercise performance, education, orthe like (which in some embodiments may be identified via a socialnetworking site), may agree to play a virtual game while each groupmember works out. For instance, one group member may wish to work out ata local gym, while another may wish to work out in his/her home, etc. Asdescribed above, each gaming device such as a cellular telephone, tabletcomputer, etc., may include an application which displays a video gamein which each group member may control one or more aspects of the videogame. For instance, each group member's exercise may control theposition, speed, movement or the like of a video game character. In thismanner a group of friends may be motivated to work out together.Similarly, an exerciser may enter a “pick up” game with previouslyunknown exercisers. In a further example, such games may be used in amatch-making embodiment (e.g., to introduce people with similarinterests and/or geographic location that meet predetermined criteriasuch as age, education, marital status, or the like). For example, afirst exerciser may be at a local health club and wish to meet anotherexerciser within the health club. He/she may send out a request forsomeone within the health club to participate and/or compete in a videogame or virtual competition. In some embodiments, an application on amobile device may be used to access a social networking cite to identifyexercise partners. That is, application 110 may access a web site toidentify exercisers at the health club. For instance, the health clubmay maintain a Facebook or similar page that may be used to identifyexercisers currently at the health club that may wish to interact, suchas train or compete, with other exercisers at the health club. Therequest may include filters such as required characteristics of theinvited exerciser (e.g., female, single, age, employment status, etc.).Accordingly, an application with such functionality may be provided toexecute on a mobile device or other gaming device of the exercisers.Specifically, in some embodiments, application 110 may include computerprogram code that allows an exerciser to indicate a desire toparticipate with local exercisers; identify the current location of theexerciser (e.g., using GPS features of the mobile device executingapplication 110 or by selection by the exerciser); and communicateposition information to a web site. The web site may employ geographicalinformation about the exerciser to identify other nearby exercisers thathave indicated a desire to exercise with others. The web site may thenintroduce the exercisers (e.g., by specifying where the exercisers canmeet or by introducing avatars of the exercisers on respective mobiledevices). In some embodiments, the web site may host a virtual game/raceas described above. Any suitable biometric information may be monitoredduring exercise such as position, speed, heart rate, cadence, etc.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary video game 500 for use bymobile devices 102 a-n via a Web server or other server 112 incommunication with the mobile devices 102 a-n and/or may be managedand/or administered by a social networking site such as Facebook,Google+ or Twitter. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a virtual farm 502 isprovided that includes crops 504, a tractor 506, a barn 508, a silo 510,chickens 512, cows 514 and/or any other typical farm items (not shown).In some embodiments, the goal of such a video game 500 may be to growmore crops, buy more land, obtain more eggs, chickens, cows or milk,plow fields, harvest crops, or the like. In accordance with embodimentsof the present invention, performance of such activities may be enhancedby exercise of one or more exercisers 104 a-n. For instance, ifexerciser 104 a is playing the video game 500, exerciser 104 a may beassigned (or establish) an exercise goal such as a number of miles towalk or run, a number of minutes to walk or run on a treadmill, a lengthof time to perform an aerobics routine, a number of jumping jacks toperform, etc. Completion of such goals may be monitored by a mobiledevice 102 a-n as previously described (e.g., through use ofaccelerometers of the mobile device or external accelerometers,GPS-features, use of heart rate monitors, verification by a third partysuch as a friend or health club staff, etc.). In exchange for completion(or partial completion) of the exercise goal, an exerciser may berewarded with more land, more or heartier crops, more cows or more milkproduction from cows, new farm animals or equipment, gas or diesel fuelfor farm equipment, more grain in the silo 510, more tokens or virtualmoney for farm item purchases, or the like.

In some embodiments, an exercise group 108 may be assigned to a farm(e.g., a community farm). Exercisers 104 a-n within the exercise group108 may be assigned farm tasks that are enhanced by exercise asdescribed above. Being a part of such a group may be provide additionalmotivation for each exerciser 104 a-n to complete regular exercise(e.g., due to peer pressure).

In some embodiments, an application 110 for a mobile device is providedthat includes program code adapted to allow the mobile device to displayand interact with a virtual farm having one or more avatars controllableby location and/or other exercise information of a user of the mobiledevice. For example, the application 110 may track location and/or otherexercise information such as heart rate, pulse, steps, etc., and rewardthe exerciser with enhanced game play within the virtual farmenvironment (e.g., more land, more or heartier crops, more cows or moremilk production from cows, new farm animals or equipment, gas or dieselfuel for farm equipment, more grain in the silo, more tokens or virtualmoney for farm item purchases, or the like). In one or more embodiments,the application 110 may share location information with at least oneother mobile device and/or obtain location information of at least oneother mobile device. In some embodiments, the program code may beadapted to allow a user of the mobile device to join an exercise groupand communicate with mobile devices of other members of the exercisegroup (e.g., within the virtual environment).

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The exercisers 104 a-n may wish to have a more interactive experience.Accordingly, in some embodiments, the race 200 and/or 300 may be part ofa video game in which the avatar 212 and/or avatars 312 a-n encountermonsters, snipers, assassins, wild animals, obstacles or other typicalvideo game scenarios that the avatar(s) must navigate through and/orsurvive. In this regard, if exerciser 104 a is currently exercising,his/her exercise level may directly affect video game play of either theexerciser 104 a or of the other exercisers 104 b-n. For instance,exercise of exerciser 104 a may be employed to affect the speed,striking force, game level, etc., of the avatar 212. Exemplary videogame character performance levels that may be affected by a measuredexercise parameter are shown below in Table 1. Such parameters may bemeasured using suitable sensors such heart rate monitor chest straps,pedometers, accelerometers, or the like.

TABLE 1 VIDEO GAME CHARACTER MONITORED EXERCISER PERFORMANCE LEVELPERFORMANCE LEVEL CONTROLLED pedaling rate speed, striking forcestepping rate speed, striking force rowing rate speed, striking forcerunning rate speed, striking force pulse rate speed, energy level,accuracy striking force striking force swing velocity swing velocitydistance traveled game level time exercised game level

In one example, exercise of exerciser 104 a may be used to controlspeed, striking force or game level of a video game in which avatar 212is a character. One or more of the other exercisers 104 b-n in group 108may control other parameters of the avatar 212 such as movement to theright, left, up, down, other movements such as jumping, kicking, firinga weapon, steering a car, etc. For instance, while exercising, theexerciser 104 a may not be free to use his/her hands to manipulate themobile device 102 a in a manner that would cause the avatar 212 to turnright or left, kick, jump, fire a weapon, etc. Nonetheless, the exerciseof the exerciser 104 a may be used to affect the speed, striking force,game level, etc., of the avatar 212. One or more of the other exercisers104 b-n in group 108 who is/are not exercising may use his/herrespective mobile device 102 b-n to cause movement of the avatar 212 tothe right or left, to kick, etc., or otherwise proceed through the videogame (e.g., using accelerometers within the mobile device, tapping thescreen of the mobile device, etc.) while the exerciser 104 a isexercising.

In some embodiments, primary control of the avatar 212 may pass back andforth between two or more members of an exercise group over and overduring a work out routine (e.g., as the person exercising changes). Forexample, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a video game 600 executing onmobile devices 102 a and 102 b of exercisers 104 a and 104 b,respectively. Other numbers of mobile devices and/or exercisers may beused.

Mobile devices 102 a-b include an application for the video game 600. Inthe example shown, a race car 602 is shown. Any other video game type,character, setting or the like may be used (as described above, forexample). Mobile devices 102 a-b may communicate with each otherdirectly, such as via WIFI, a cellular network, some other protocol,etc., or may communicate indirectly through a web server 112 or similarsystem. In the embodiment shown, control of the steering and/or brakingof car 602 is controlled by the exerciser 102 a or 102 b who is notexercising, while control the speed of the car 602 is controlled by theexerciser 102 a or 102 b who is exercising. Who exercises when and/orfor how long may be determined by the exercisers 102 a, 102 b, a thirdparty such as other members of an exercise group, a trainer, a retailerthat may offer rewards for completing an exercise program, or the like.For instance, in some embodiments, web server 112 may host a webinterface in which the race 600, or information or statistics about therace 600, may be observed. Through such a web interface, an exerciser orother party may enter a desired exercise duration for the game 600, whenand/or for how long each exerciser will exercise, etc. Such informationmay be communicated to the mobile devices 102 a-n before and/or duringgame play, for example.

In one or more embodiments, a mobile device 102 a may include anapplication 110 having computer program code adapted to (1) log into aweb site; (2) indicate a desire to join an exercise group and/or selectan exercise group to join; (3) specify duration and/or type of exercisedesired; (4) specify who in a group will exercise when and/or for howlong; (5) receive an indication from the web site when an exercisershould begin exercising; (6) receive updates from the web site regardinghow an exerciser within the group is progressing; (7) display changes inthe video game in response to exercise (e.g., change in position of anavatar in response to exercise performed by members of the group); (8)display changes in the video game in response to inputs from members ofthe group (e.g., direction, speed or other behavior of an avatar);and/or (9) allow users to control one or more aspects of the video gamewhen not exercising (e.g., direction, speed, or other behavior of anavatar). In some embodiments, a web site hosting such a group may offerincentives, rewards or the like to group members for being in the group,achieving exercise objectives, etc., (e.g., coupons to restaurants,virtual tokens or rewards for online social games, etc.).

In other embodiments, the exerciser 104 a may control movements of anavatar as well. In one particular embodiment, an application 110 may beadapted to process voice commands of the exerciser 104 a to controlmovement or other behaviors of an avatar. Exemplary voice commands areshown in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 VOICE COMMAND VIDEO GAME CHARACTER OF EXERCISER CHARACTERISTICCONTROLLED “L” or “Left” turn left “R” or “Right” turn right “J” or“Jump” jump “D” or “Duck” duck or drop to the ground “B” or “Back” moveback “K” or “Kick” kick “F” or “Fly” flyIn other embodiments, another sound of exerciser 104 a may be used tocontrol the avatar, such as a “clacking” sound. For instance, theexerciser 104 a may clack his/her tongue once to turn right, twice toturn left, thrice to jump, etc., similar to Morse code. In someembodiments, the exerciser 104 a may select/record sounds that are to beinterpreted by the application 110 to correspond to turning left orright, jumping, ducking, kicking with a left or right leg, flying, etc.

Additional Embodiments

In some embodiments, a gaming device such as a mobile telephone, tabletcomputer, or the like, may include a video game with characteristicsthat change based on the number of other gaming devices near the gamingdevice. For example, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a system 700 foremploying proximity of other mobile device users to affect game play.With reference to FIG. 7, a plurality of mobile devices 702 a-nassociated with users 704 a-n are shown each running an application 710.Fewer or more mobile devices and/or users may be present. Application710 is adapted to communicate over a communication network 706 to a webserver 712 (having program code 714 and one or more databases 716).

In operation, application 710 may be executed on numerous mobile devicessuch as cellular telephones, tablet computers or the like. Each mobiledevice executing application 710 may communicate location informationregarding its respective mobile device to web server 712 and web server712 may collect, aggregate and/or otherwise assemble locationinformation. In some embodiments, web server 712 analyzes the collectedlocation information to determine a group 708 of mobile devices 702 a-nthat are within a predetermined distance of each other (e.g., same room,building, block, city, state, etc.). The distance may be selected by theweb server 712, or in some embodiments, based on a user of a mobiledevice (e.g., mobile device 102 a in this example). For instance, user704 a may wish to play a video game having characteristics that varybased on the number of people near the user 704 a at any given time.User 704 a may specify what distance away from the user 704 a a personmust be to affect game play (e.g., 10, 20 or 30 feet, 100 yards, samecity block, 1 mile, same city, etc.). Web server 712 then maycommunicate with the application 710 executing on mobile device 702 a tocommunication how many people (e.g., mobile device users) are near user704 a. Application 710 may include a video game, or interact withanother video game on mobile device 702 a, so that the number of peoplespecified by web server 712 affects game play on mobile device 702 a.Alternatively or in additional, web server 712 may provide positioninformation, or relative position information to mobile device 702 a,for mobile users near user 704 a, and application 710 may use thisinformation to affect game play. For instance, a number, density,location, or the like of background characters in a video game may bebased on the information provided by web server 712 (e.g., an opposingteam's army size, the number of monsters in a game, the density of aforest in the game, or any other relevant video game parameter). In thismanner, a dynamically changing video game is provided that is affectedby real world activities. Note that application 710 need not beidentical on each mobile device 702 a-n (e.g., some applications 710 maybe communicating information to web server 712 for other purposes).

In general, the application 710 may monitor whether mobile devices arewithin a predetermined geographic area of one another, such as by usingGPS location information from each mobile device. Characteristics of avideo game running on one or more of the mobile devices may depend on orotherwise be affected by the number or proximity of other mobile devices(e.g., video game characteristics such as the number or position ofvideo game characters within the video game, the landscape or backgroundcharacteristics of the video game, etc.). In some embodiments, biometricinformation collected by each mobile device such as heart rate, speed,etc., similarly may be used to affect the video game by affecting thespeed, strength, position, etc., of characters within the video game).Further, in some embodiments, certain game levels, movements, etc., mayonly be possible within the video game if a large enough (or smallenough) number of mobile devices are present within a predeterminedlocation (e.g., if enough people are at a restaurant, concert, or othervenue). For instance, a restaurant, concert hall or other venue may hosta gaming event and provide incentive within the venue or with the videogame based on a number of attendees (e.g., free food, higher gaminglevel, etc.).

In some embodiments, the video game may communicate with a socialnetworking site such as Facebook, Google+ or Twitter, and such socialnetworking sites may identify or notify friends or affiliated groups ofthe presence of friends or members within a particular geographic area(e.g., using GPS features of mobile devices). Such friends or affiliatedgroups may be prompted to participate in video games or to otherwiseinteract.

In one or more embodiments, video game characteristics of a video gamemay be affected by location information of the mobile device executingthe video game. For instance, a user may only enter a certain game levelif he/she is physically located at a particular location such as arestaurant, a mall, a computer store, a city, a monument, or the like.The user's position may be determined, for example, using GPS featuresof the mobile device (e.g., mobile device 702 a may do this directly, ormobile device 702 a may communicate position information to web server712, and web server 712 may provide access to the game level or otherbenefit based on the position information).

In yet other embodiments, location information from mobile devices maybe collected and/or aggregated to track position, travel habits, etc.,of a group of people such as lawyers, doctors, gamers, etc., that aremembers of a social network. In fact, a virtual world or map may begenerated by tracking the position of one or mobile devices during anygiven time period. In some embodiments, such information may be used toaffect video game characteristics such as game environment, number ofvideo game characters, or the like. For instance, web server 712 maycollect position information for members of a legal group on anetworking web site and provide this information for use in a video game(e.g., as described above).

In some embodiments of the invention, a system is provided that includesa plurality of mobile devices and an application on at least a firstmobile device. The application is adapted to track position informationregarding the first mobile device, communicate the position informationto a web server, receive position information from the web serverregarding other mobile devices within a predetermined distance of thefirst mobile device, and use the position information regarding theother mobile devices to affect one or more characteristics of a videogame executed on the first mobile device.

In one or more embodiments, a user of the first mobile device may selecthow position information affects the video game (e.g., whatcharacteristics of the game are affected by the number of people nearthe user, such as a number of enemies in the video game, landscape, gamelevel, etc.), and/or the predetermined distance. Alternatively, the webserver may select one or more of how position information affects thevideo game and the predetermined distance. The position information mayinclude a number of other mobile devices within the predetermineddistance, a density of mobile devices, or any other relevant positioninformation. In some embodiments, the web server may provide incentivesif a predetermined number of mobile devices are within the predetermineddistance, such as coupons or discounts to restaurants or other retailestablishments.

The foregoing description discloses only exemplary embodiments of theinvention; modifications of the above disclosed apparatus and methodwhich fall within the scope of the invention will be readily apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art. For instance, any number ofperformance levels of an exerciser may be monitored and used to controlany number of performance levels of a video game character. Further, oldvideo games may be modified for use with the present invention, or newvideo games may be developed.

In some embodiments, exercisers may join exercise groups via a socialnetworking site such as Facebook, Google+ or Twitter. Such socialnetworking sites may collect information on the exercisers and makerecommendations for exercise groups based on age, weight, type ofexercise, geographic location or the like.

In some embodiments, exercisers training for a marathon or otherexercise goal may be identified by a social networking site (e.g., basedon hobbies, interests, or other identifying data posted by the exerciseron the social networking site). One or more exercisers, or the socialnetworking site itself, may invite like exercisers to join a traininggroup. In some embodiments, retail businesses such as clothing stores,restaurants, cellular telephone providers, or the like, may offermembers of the group discounts such as reduced rate clothing, discountedmeals, reduced cell phone rates or free minutes (e.g., for calls betweengroup members) or the like.

In some aspects, a method for exercising using a mobile device isprovided that includes providing an application on a first mobiledevice. The application adapted to (1) display an avatar on the firstmobile device; (2) monitor exercise performed by a user of the firstmobile device to obtain monitored exercise information; (3) communicatemonitored exercise information from the first mobile device to one ormore other mobile devices employed by one or more other users; (4)receive monitored exercise information from one or more other mobiledevices employed by one or more other users; (5) display an avatar onthe first mobile device; and (6) adjust a position of the avatar on thefirst mobile device based on monitored exercise information of the firstuser and monitored exercise information from one or more other mobiledevices. The monitored exercise information may exchanged between mobiledevices via a remote web server, such via a social network web siterunning on the remote web server.

In some aspects, an application for a mobile device is provided thatincludes program code adapted to allow the mobile device to (1) displaya video game have one or more avatars controllable by locationinformation of a user of the mobile device and location information ofat least one user of another mobile device; (2) share locationinformation for the mobile device with at least one other mobile device;and (3) obtain location information of at least one other mobile device.In some embodiments, the program code may be adapted to allow a user ofthe mobile device to join an exercise group; and communicate locationinformation for the mobile device with mobile devices of other membersof the exercise group. In some embodiments, the program code may beadapted to communicate with mobile devices of other members of theexercise group through a social network web site. In additionalembodiments, the program code may be adapted to switch control of motionof the avatar on the mobile device between the user of the mobile deviceand a user of another mobile device.

In some embodiments, one or more of the methods or processes describedabove may be implemented, at least in part, in computer program codeand/or may form a computer program product. Each computer programproduct may be carried by a medium readable by a computer (e.g., acarrier wave signal, a floppy disc, a hard drive, a random accessmemory, etc.). In general, information about a user (e.g., an exerciser)may be provided to the server 112 or another computer by any mechanism(e.g., via mail, via e-mail, via telephone, via cellular telephone, viafacsimile, etc.). For example, information may be received via one ormore HTTP transmissions or via some other communications protocol.

Accordingly, while the present invention has been disclosed inconnection with exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understoodthat other embodiments may fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention, as defined by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system to motivate a user to exercisecomprising: a server; a first computing device; and an applicationexecutable on the first computing device, the application including: acommunication transmission function operable to employ communicationfacilities of the first computing device to communicate exerciseinformation of a first user of the first computing device to the server;wherein the application includes program code that is executable by thefirst computing device and that is operable to communicate with theserver to: receive at the first computing device information from theserver regarding a first group of users including the first user and asecond user of a second computing device; receive at the first computingdevice from the server an assignment of a portion of a race along a racepath assigned to the first user and a portion of the race along the racepath assigned to the second user; receive at the first computing devicefrom the server an assignment of exercise to be performed by the firstuser to complete the portion of the race path assigned to the firstuser; receive at the first computing device from the server anassignment of exercise to be performed by the second user to completethe portion of the race path assigned to the second user; monitor thefirst user via the first computing device to determine a level ofcompletion of the exercise assigned to the first user; receive at thefirst computing device via the server a level of completion of theexercise assigned to the second user; and display on the first computingdevice information regarding progress of the first group along the racepath based at least in part on completion of the exercise assigned tothe first user and the exercise assigned to the second user.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the first computing device is a mobiletelephone.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the race is between thefirst group and a second group, the second group comprising a pluralityof users each using a separate computing device.
 4. The system of claim1, wherein the race path is between a first virtual location and asecond virtual location.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein at least oneof the first virtual location and the second virtual location is basedon a real location.
 6. The system of claim 4 wherein at least one of thefirst virtual location and the second virtual location is based on areal city.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the information regardingthe level of completion of the exercise assigned to the first user andthe exercise assigned to the second user on the first computing deviceincludes a virtual position between a first virtual location along therace path and a second virtual location along the race path.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the application is further operable tocommunicate with the server to receive information to display, on thefirst computing device, a map including a virtual position of progressof the first group along the race path based at least on the level ofcompletion of the exercise assigned to the first user and the exerciseassigned to the second user.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein theinformation regarding the level of completion of the exercise assignedto the first user and the exercise assigned to the second user on thefirst computing device includes a position along the race path.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the application is further operable tocommunicate with the server to receive information to display the racepath on the first computing device.
 11. The system of claim 1, whereinthe application is further operable to monitor via the first computingdevice a change in position of the first computing device and whereinthe application is operable to track the change in position.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the change in position is caused by thefirst user walking or running.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein thechange in position is caused by the first user bicycling.
 14. The systemof claim 11, wherein the application is further operable to monitor viathe first computing device biometric information of the first user. 15.The system of claim 1, wherein the application is further operable tocommunicate with the server to receive information to display, on thefirst computing device, a single avatar representative of the firstgroup's progress along the race path.
 16. A method of monitoringexercise comprising: forming, via a server executing computer programcode, a first group of exercisers including a first exerciser using afirst computing device and a second exerciser using a second computingdevice, the server in communication with the first and second computingdevices; generating, via program code, a race path between at least afirst virtual location and a second virtual location; assigning, viaprogram code, a first portion of the race path to the first exerciserand a second portion of the race path to the second exerciser;assigning, via program code, an exercise to be performed by the firstexerciser to complete the first portion of the race path; assigning, viaprogram code, an exercise to be performed by the second exerciser tocomplete the second portion of the race path; monitoring the exerciseperformed by the first exerciser, via communication to the server fromthe first computing device, to determine a level of completion of theexercise assigned to the first exerciser; monitoring a level ofcompletion of the exercise assigned to the second exerciser viacommunication to the server from the second computing device; anddisplaying on a display of the first computing device informationregarding progress of the first group along the race path based at leastin part on completion of the exercise assigned to the first exerciserand the exercise assigned to the second exerciser.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising forming, via the program code, a secondgroup of exercisers using computing devices, wherein the second groupcompetes against the first group to complete the race path.
 18. Themethod of claim 16, wherein displaying comprises displaying a mapincluding a virtual position of progress of the first group along therace path based at least on the level of completion of the exerciseassigned to the first user and the exercise assigned to the second user.19. The method of claim 16, wherein monitoring the first exercisercomprises monitoring a change in position of the first computing device.20. A system to motivate a user to exercise comprising: a serverexecuting computer program code; and an application executable on afirst computing device, the application including: a communicationtransmission function operable to employ communication facilities of thefirst computing device to communicate exercise information of a firstuser of the first computing device to the server; and the applicationoperable to: enable the first user to input information regarding afirst group of users that includes the first user; receive, from theserver, information of a second user of a second computing device;receive, from the server, an assignment of a first portion of a racealong a race path, determined by the program code, assigned to the firstuser and a second portion of the race along the race path assigned tothe second user; receive, from the server, an assignment of exercisedetermined by the program code to be performed by the first user tocomplete the first portion of the race path; receive, from the server,an assignment of exercise determined by the program code to be performedby the second user to complete the second portion of the race path;monitor exercise performed by the first user via the first computingdevice to determine a level of completion of the exercise assigned tothe first user; receive, by way of the server, a level of completion ofthe exercise assigned to the second user; and display on the firstcomputing device information regarding progress of the first group alongthe race path based at least in part on completion of the exerciseassigned to the first user and the exercise assigned to the second user.